Monday, January 14, 2013

Monday January 14, 2013

The Grand Junction VA Medical Center and locations in Craig, Glenwood Springs, Montrose and Moab have flu vaccine and are hosting clinics this week. In Grand Junction, vets can get shots from 9 until noon and 1 to 4. You can contact the other sites for hours. The shots are free and veterans just need to show proof of military service.

Colorado State Patrol Chief Jim Wolfinbarger is retiring after heading the patrol for four years. Wolfinbarger's contract was to have ended in June, he'll step down at the end of the month. Wolfinbarger was with the patrol for 14 years, including a two year stint in Grand Junction. In a letter to state patrol employees, Wolfinbarger says he's decided to pursue new challenges and looks forward to the next phase of his professional life.

Two Grand Junction men have been arrested in an alleged bank fraud scheme in 2007 and 2008. 57 year old Franklin Harris and 51 year old Merlin Unruh were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver last week, accused of bank fraud and money laundering in the development of two valley subdivisions. Both are free on bond and scheduled to be arraigned in Grand Junction tomorrow. Harris and Unruh were each charged with thirty-five counts of bank fraud, six counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted they face federal prison and millions of dollars in fines.

Two 19 year old California men working in Eagle County have been arrested accused of stealing an iPhone and attempting to sell it on Craig's list. The victim spotted his phone on the site and contacted police who arranged to buy the phone. An Eagle County Sheriff's news release says one of the men apparently stole the phone, the other attempted to sell it on Craig's List.

If you want to know about safety at Montrose schools, look no further than the Montrose Daily Press. The Paper yesterday published an editorial by Superintendent Mark MacHale outlining procedures and relationships with local emergency agencies to keep schools safe. He says the district is in the process of another full-scale safety audit and called on parents, students and the community to keep schools safe.

The city of Montrose hasn't given up on a plan for a whiewater park project on the Uncompahgre River and now they're hoping to team up with the county. The Montrose Daily Press says city council will consider a proposal from the Montrose county Commission for a commitment of up to $50,000 for development of the park. The issue comes up at tomorrow's Montrose city council meeting and if approved, would add the county to the city and Montrose Recreation District to pursue lottery funds for the park.

Mesa County is being recognized today by the National Weather Service as being "Storm Ready," for its commitment to being prepared to protect infrastructure and save lives in case of severe storms. Grand Junction meteorologist-in-charge says the county has a strong network of highly dedicated emergency services personnel, and volunteers ready to take action.

There's been talk about the restructuring of the I-70/Highway 6&50 interchange, now it's starting to take shape. There's an open house tomorrow to outline the realignment of 22 Road and the new diverging diamond. The Daily Sentinel says the open house will include a video demonstrating how to drive the new interchange. The City of Grand Junction is working on 22 Road, that project beginning in March. And the state the diverging diamond beginning in June.

A National Institute of Justice grant means two cases in Mesa County may be up for review. The two involve people convicted of murder at trial in Mesa County, and are among 5 statewide singled out for review. Modern DNA testing could have an impact on the cases. The Daily Sentinel says the reviews were begun following the exoneration of Robert Dewey last year after he had spent 16 years in prison.

Water users in Colorado are still praying for snow with snowpack levels well below average for this time of year. Information from the natural Resources Conservation Service shows the Upper Colorado River area at 61% of average. As of January 1st, statewide snowpack was 70% of average.